Stethoscope



F. C. ASCHBURNER.

STETHOSCOPE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY28,1919.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.,

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRICK C. ASCHBURNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STETHOSCOPE.

Application filed May 28, 1919.

1'?) all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fnnnmon C. AsoI-I-nonNrn, a citizen of the United States, and a .ent of the city ofChicago, in the county of book and State of ll ois, have invented acertain new and 'userul Improvement in Stethoscopes; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thenumerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to an improved type of stetho; ope adapted formediate auscultation and having the diaphragm provided with a convenedor projecting central por tion to facilitate application of thestethoscope to a person to be examined.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stethoscope with aprojecting diap h r a gin It is also an object of the invention toconstruct a stethoscope with a diaphragm which projects beyond theremovable diaphragm retaining rings.

A further object of the invention is the construction of a stethoscopewherein the sound conveying tubes are adjustable with respect to thediaphragm.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to provide a stethoscopewith adjustable sound conveying tubes adapted to be held locked in anadjusted position.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a binauralstethoscope with a centrally convened projecting diaphragm adapted to bereadily applied to a person to permit the sounds of the workings ofdifferent organs of a. human body to be transmitted to both ears of anobserver through a pair of adjustable tubes.

Other and further important objects of this ll'lYGDtlOEl will beapparent from the disclosures in the specification and draw ings. I

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a stethoscope embodying the principles ofthis invention.

2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a central section taken on line 3-3, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 is a section taken on line 44, of

. Fig. 3.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Serial No. 300,461.

Fig. 5 is side elevation of the set screw shown associated withfragmentary parts of the stethoscope casing and one of the tube stems.

Fig. 6 an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 66, of Fig.1.

As shown on the drawings:

The binaural stethoscope comprises a casing 1, open at one end and cloed at the other end and made of metal or any other suitable material.The closed end of the casing is provided with a central threadedpassage, and two stem openings disposed on opposite s ines of saidpassage and communicating therewith. Adjustably projecting through thecasing openings are two metal stems or pipes 2, the inner ends of whichare enlarged to form mouth pieces or bells 3. Secured on the outerprojecting end of each stem 2, is one end of a rubber sound conveyingtube d, having an ear piece (not shown) attached on the other endthereof. The stems 2, are held in a predetermined adjusted position bymeans of a set screw 5, removably threaded in the casing passage betweenthe stems 2, and having portions cut away from two opposite sidesthereof to afford the tapered plain surfaces 6, as shown in Fig. 5.

Integrally formed peripherally on the casing 1, is a knurled ring 7. Thecasing below the knurled ring 7, is of reduced diameter and threaded asindicated by, the reference numeral 8. Below or to the outside of thethreaded casing portion 8, is a plain slightly tapered rim 9, which isintegral with the threaded casing portion 8, and of less diameter toafliord a shoulder 10. The open end of the casing is closed by means ofa diaphragm 1.1, which is made of celluloid or other suitable material,stretched across the rim 9, and engaged around the outer si'irfacethereof. The central portion of the diaphragm, is bulged outwardly orconvened to form a contact dome 12. The diaphragm is removably retainedin position by a plain ring 13, which engages around the upturnedmarginal portion of the diaphragm and holds the same pressed against theeasing rim 9. A knurled internally threaded retaining ring 14:, isprovided with an inwardly directed flange 15, to engage the plain ring13, and force the same toward the casing shoulder 10, as the knurledretaining ring 14, is threaded onto the threaded portion 8, of thecasing 1.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the diaphragm is permitted to projectbeyond the flange 15, of the knurled retaining ring 14. Thisconstruction together with the diaphragm contact dome 12, permits thestethoscope to be readily applied over a selected part of the body of aperson to be tested by mediate auscultation. The sounds, from the partof a person being examined, are transmitted by means of the diaphragm tothe enlarged mouth pieces 3, of the stems 2, through the tubes 1 to thepieces of the device. Should the hearing in one ear of the examiner bedefective, the inner enlarged end of one of the stems 2, may readily beadjusted. This is accomplished by turning the set screw 5, until theflat surfaces 6, thereof are positioned acent the stems 2, whereby therespective stem is per: mitted to be moved inwardly toward the diaphragm11. After adjustment of the stems 2, the set screw 5, is again turned tolock the stems in their adjusted positions. The sound conducting stemsare mounted with the inner ends converging and directed toward thecenter of the diaphragm. The stethoscope parts are all adapted to beconveniently assembled or removed for cleaning or replacement.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention, andI therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a stethoscope, of

projecting thereinto, a set screw engaged in said casing for holding thetubes in adjusted position, said set screw having fiat surfaces adaptedto be positioned adjacent the tubes to permit the tubes to be slidablymoved with respect to the casing.

3. A stethosocope embracing a casing open at one end, a diaphragmclosing the open end of the casing, said casing at its closed endprovided with a central threaded passage and two openings on oppositesides thereof and communicating therewith, adjustable sound conveyingtubes projecting into said casing through said openings, and a set screwremovably threaded into said passage and engaging said tubes to hold thesame locked in their adjusted positions.

.1. A stethoscope comprising a casing, two ear tubes which projectadjustable distances into the casing, and means for holding the tubes inthe desired positions relative to the casing. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

FREDRIOK C. ASCHBURNER.

Witnesses FRED PAESLER,

CHARLES W. HILLs, Jr.

